Health and care research receives £16m funding boost

Southampton researchers have been awarded £16.3 million to continue valuable applied research across the South of England.

It is part of a £157 million investment over five years by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). This will fund ten NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) in England.

It has been awarded to researchers at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and the University of Southampton (UoS).

‘A powerful endorsement’

Applied health research targets the immediate issues facing the healthcare, public health and social care system.

The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex has been running since 2019. This funding will allow research with the new ARC to continue until 2031.

David French, chief executive at UHS, said:

“This funding is a powerful endorsement of the world-leading research and expertise at UHS and its partners across the region.

“With support now secured through to 2031, our centres and facilities are ideally placed to transform cutting-edge ideas into real-world treatments. This will drive improvements in healthcare that will benefit our patients and communities for years to come.

“The NIHR ARC Wessex is a dynamic collaboration of partners united in tackling the most pressing health and care challenges facing our population."

Five flagship programmes

ARC Wessex works with universities, the NHS, councils, voluntary and community organisations, and most importantly the public and patients in Wessex.

This new ARC will focus on five flagship programmes alongside its research themes targeting some of the biggest health and care challenges facing the UK. These include obesity, dementia, multiple long-term conditions, addiction and everyday data.

Director Professor Catherine Bowen is leading the new ARC. She is based at the School of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton.

She said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our region to lead health and care research that is shaped by what really matters to our communities.

“We have built a strong senior team, and I am especially pleased to be working alongside my co-director, Prof Michael Boniface, from the world-renowned School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton.

“Securing this funding was the result of an intensive 18-month process. During this we listened to leaders across health, public health and social care. We also listened carefully to members of the public, community groups, and the voluntary sector.

“We are now looking forward to getting started. We will build partnerships, launch our new research programmes, and make sure our work delivers real benefits for the people who need it most.”

The main research themes are:

• Healthy Communities and Prevention
• Living Well with Long-term Conditions
• Mental Health
• Integrated Health
• Social Care, Data and Technology

Professor Michael Boniface said:

“Through our system-facing flagship programmes we’re not just generating new solutions. We’re working with partners to build the systems that can use and sustain innovation.

“Each theme tackles a national priority, from addiction and obesity to dementia, long-term conditions, and digital transformation. Together they align with the NHS Long Term Plan, creating approaches we can scale from regional strength to national impact.”

Research themes are underpinned by a core team for research training and development, public and patient involvement, engagement and inclusion, and implementing systems.

This core team includes leaders from UHS, UoS, Bournemouth, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust, Health Innovation Wessex, Help and Care and Action Hampshire.

‘Leading as a region’

Christine McGrath is Managing Director of Wessex Health Partners. Wessex Health Partners was involved in the bid, and represents research organisations in the Wessex region.

She said: “This is a great vote of confidence in the Life Sciences in Wessex. It shows that we are leading as a region. This is due to our cross-organisational expertise, skills, facilities, networks and, above all, our ability to work together to meet pressing health and care needs.

“The money represents a substantial inward investment into the region, and will make a real difference to patients and the public.”

Between 2019 and 2025 ARC Wessex generated £100 million in research funding from an initial grant of £9 million. The next ARC is expected to do the same.

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and CEO of the NIHR, said:

“This new funding shows the NIHR’s ongoing commitment to developing and delivering high-quality health and care research across the country.

“The investment will enable the Applied Research Collaborations to continue to bring new treatments and technologies to patients and the public. This supports the aims of the Government's 10 Year Health Plan to champion innovation and power transformation."